Musical instrument



April 11, 1939 A. s. TERHAAR 2,153,817

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 1a, 1956 d I 9 INVENTOR.

5 11 a L BY A/oys/us 5. 70M

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to a musical instrument, more particularly a musical instrument having some of the characteristics of an accordion and some of the characteristics of a harmonica, and

| the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a musical instrument which readily harmonizes with a harmonica;

Second, to provide a musical instrument of this class which readily harmonizes with an accordion:

Third, to provide a musical instrument which has some of the characteristics of both the accordion and harmonica;

Fourth, to provide a musical instrument of this class which may be used by the player as his own accompaniment of a harmonica or other similar instruments;

Fifth, to provide a musical instrument of this class with a bellows which operates reeds with both the in-going and out-going air;

Sixth, to provide a musical instrument which is new and novel; and

Seventh, to provide a musical instrument of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, easy to operate, durable, and efficient.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination,

no and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part 35 of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of my musical instrument; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view from the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view and Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view from the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing:

The upper plate I, lower plate 2, bellows fabric 3, spring 4, air controlled casing 5, partition 8, screws I, reeds 8 and 9, keys I0 and I I, harmonica holders I2, and tape I3 constitute the principal parts and portions of my musical instrument.

The upper plate I may be of varying sizes, but

is substantially three inches wide by ten inches long and may be made of metal or wood. The lower plate 2 is similar to the plate I and may be made of metal or wood. It is preferred to make the lower plate slightly shorter as the lower plate is used substantially on a horizontal plane when in operation, while the upper plate is on an incline from the horizontal as shown best in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing.

Mounted on the upper sides of the plates I andZ and at the opposite ends is the bellows fabric 3 5 providing an air tight chamber between the plates I and 2, it being noted that this fabric is wider at the one end as shown best in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing. Secured at the larger end is a piece of tape I3, which is secured to the ends of 10 both the members I and 2 and prevents the memhers I and 2 from spreading too far apart, thus insuring that the bellows fabric 3 turns inwardly with the movement of the members I and 2 toward each other. Positioned some distance 16 from this large end between the members I and 2 is a compression spring 4 which tends to move the members I and 2 apart at the larger end. Mounted across the outer side of the upper end of the plate I is a pad Ia which forms a cushion 20 for the fingers of the operator and the end of the member 2 rests on the palm of the hand and thumb base.

Secured on the inner or lower side of the member I at the smaller end is a casing 5 which 5 serves to control the fiow of air to and from the interior of the instrument. This casing extends across the member I and is provided with a partition 6 interposed between the side 5a of the casing I and the plate I as shown best in Figs. 2 30 and 4 of the drawing and spaced by means of partitions Id and 5d and held together by screws I, thus dividing the casing 5 into a plurality of compartments. In this case I have shown eight, but may be more or less as desired. Each of these compartments is provided with an opening Ib through the plate I and each compartment is also provided with another opening Ic through the plate I. In the openings Ic are provided key members It] and II which are provided with 40 stems la and I la which are provided with valves Illb and III) on their extended ends. Interposed between the key members Ill and the partition 6 are compression springs IOC and Ilc which tend to hold the valves Iflb closed, it being noted that in Fig. 2 the valve I0b is shown closed while the valve III; is shown opened. These valves cover openings 5b in the casing member 5. The partition 6 is provided with slots 6a shown best in Fig. 4 of the drawing over which are positioned 50 reeds 8 and 9 on opposite sides so that when the air passes outwardly through the slots 6a, the reeds 8 are operated and when the air passes inwardly through the reeds 6a, the reeds 9 are operated. I

Mounted on the lower side of the plate 2 near the smaller end of the instrument and extending outwardly therefrom are harmonica holders l2 for supporting a harmonica or other mouth operated instrument so that the operator of this instrument may play the harmonica in the usual manner supported in the supports l2 and accompany the same with applicants musical instrument by holding the large end in the right hand and operating the bellows and holding the small end in the left hand and operating the keys with the fingers of the left hand, thus the instrument may be shifted longitudinally carrying with it the harmonica held in the holders l2, or the musical instrument may be operated independently of the harmonica.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination, and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention, the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A musical instrument consisting of two flat smooth outer surfaced members forming a bellows, shaped and arranged to be positioned between the fingers and palm of one hand of the operator and operated by the fingers of the same hand, an air controlled casing positioned entirely on the inside of said bellows on the inner side of one or" said members, said casing provided with passages therein, reeds associated with said passages and keys extending outwardly through the upper side member and adapted to be operated for controlling the flow of air through the passages past the reeds inside of said bellows.

2. A musical instrument consisting of two fiat smooth outer surfaced members forming a bellows, shaped and arranged to be positioned between the fingers and palm of one hand of the operator and operated by the fingers of the same hand, an air controlled casing positioned entirely on the inside of said bellows on the inner side of one of said members, said casing provided with passages therein, reeds associated with said passages and keys extending outwardly through the upper side member and adapted to be operated for controlling the how of air through the passages past the reeds inside of said bellows, said air control casing divided into a plurality of compartments and a control key for each compartment extending just slightly above the outer side of said bellows at one end thereof.

3. A musical instrument consisting of a pair of plates in spaced relation with their one ends farther apart than at their other ends, said plates being substantially smooth and without any projection on their outer surface arranged to be grasped between the palm and finger of one hand of the operator thereof, a bellows fabric enclosing the sides and ends between said plates. a plurality of air conducting compartments positioned entirely inwardly of said plates so that the outer surface of said plates are smooth and unobstructed, and reeds associated with each of said compartments.

4. A musical instrument consisting of a pair of plates in spaced relation with their one ends farther apart than at their other ends, said plates being substantially smooth and without any projection on their outer surface arranged to be grasped between the palm and finger of one hand of the operator thereof, a bellows fabric enclosing the sides and ends between said plates, a plurality of air conducting compartments positioned entirely inwardly of said plates so that the outer surface of said plates are smooth and unobstructed, reeds associated with each of said compartments, and keys for separately controlling the flow of air through said compartments extending outwardly a slight distance through the wall of one of said plates.

ALOYSIUS S. TERHAAR. 

